Motor coupler with multiple pick up locations

Abstract

A hybrid male coupler portion for a front-end loader mates selectively and interchangeably with first, second or third different female coupler portions. The coupler portion includes a frame having first and second arm pin-on locations adapted for connection to associated first and second arms, respectively; at least one tilt member pin-on location adapted for connection to an associated tilt member; and first and second coupler halves including first, second and third hook-engaging mounts, first, second and third rib locking locations aligned with the respective hook-engaging mounts, plunger pin(s) slidably connected to the frame, movable between locked and retracted positions possibly moving toward the center line of the frame when locked or in opposing directions.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is: 
     
       1. A male coupler portion adapted to mate with at least three different associated female coupler portions having three different hook spacing distances, said male coupler portion comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 (i) first and second arm connection locations adapted for connection to associated first and second arms, respectively; 
 (ii) at least one tilt member connection location adapted for connection to an associated tilt member; 
 (iii) first and second coupler halves each comprising:
 a first hook-engaging mount defined by a first member that is fixedly secured to and extends between first and second vertical ribs, said first hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a first associated female coupler portion; 
 a first rib locking location comprising a first locking channel defined between said first and second vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said first hook-engaging mount; 
 a second hook-engaging mount internally disposed relative to the first hook-engaging mount and defined by a second member that is fixedly secured to extends between said second vertical rib and a third vertical rib, said second hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a second associated female coupler portion that is different from the first associated female coupler portion having at least a shorter distance between hooks; 
 a second rib locking location comprising a second locking channel defined between said second and third vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said second hook-engaging mount; 
 a third hook-engaging mount internally disposed relative to the second hook-engaging mount and defined by a third member that is fixedly secured to extends between said third vertical rib and a fourth vertical rib, said third hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a third associated female coupler portion that is different from the first and second associated female coupler portions having at least a shorter distance between hooks; 
 a third rib locking location comprising a third locking channel defined between said third and fourth vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said third hook-engaging mount; and, 
 at least one plunger pin slidably connected to the frame and movable between a locked position and a retracted position, said at least one plunger pin, when locked, adapted to engage and retain an associated female coupler portion rib ear located in at least one of the first, second, and third rib locking channels, with the at least one plunger pin located in the first second, and third locking locations in the locked configuration and out of the first, second and third locking locations in the retracted position. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The male coupler portion of  claim 1 , wherein movement of at least one of the at least one plunger pin from the retracted to the locked position is from a position farther away from a centerline of the coupler portion and external to at least the third rib to a position closer to the centerline of the coupler. 
     
     
       3. The male coupler portion of  claim 2  wherein the at least one pin further comprises at least two plunger pins, and at least one of the at least two plunger pins moves from the retracted to the locked position by moving from a position closer to the centerline of the coupler portion to a position farther away from the centerline of the coupler. 
     
     
       4. The male coupler portion of  claim 1  wherein the first and second arm connection locations are located between the first and second vertical ribs. 
     
     
       5. The male coupler portion of  claim 1  wherein the at least one plunger pin further comprises three plunger pins which cooperate with the first, second and third rib locking locations, respectively in the locked configuration, and are moved out of the first, second and third locking locations in the retracted position. 
     
     
       6. A male coupler portion adapted to mate with at least one associated female coupler portion, said male coupler portion comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 (i) first and second arm connection locations adapted for connection to associated first and second arms, respectively; 
 (ii) at least one tilt member connection location adapted for connection to an associated tilt member; 
 (iii) first and second coupler halves each comprising:
 a first hook-engaging mount defined by a first member that is fixedly secured to and extends between first and second vertical ribs, said first hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a first associated female coupler portion; 
 a first rib locking location comprising a first locking channel defined between said first and second vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said first hook-engaging mount; and, 
 at least one plunger pin slidably connected to the frame and movable between a locked position externally disposed relative to the centerline past at least one of the first and second rib, and a retracted position with the pin closer to a centerline of the coupler when in the locked position than in the retracted position, said at least one plunger pin, when locked, adapted to engage and retain an associated female coupler portion rib ear located in the first rib locking channel, and when in the retracted position, release the associated female coupler portion rib ear. 
 
 
 
     
     
       7. The male coupler portion of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a second hook-engaging mount defined by a second member that is fixedly secured to extends between said second vertical rib and a third vertical rib, said second hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a second associated female coupler portion that is different from the first associated female coupler portion having at least a shorter distance between hooks; 
 a second rib locking location comprising a second locking channel defined between said second and third vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said second hook-engaging mount; and wherein the at least one plunger pin locks the associated female coupler portion rib ear in one of the first and second rib locking locations in the locked position. 
 
     
     
       8. The male coupler portion of  claim 7  wherein movement of the at least one pin which engages the associated female coupler portion rib ear in the second rib locking location communicates through an opening through the first vertical rib during movement between the locked and retracted positions. 
     
     
       9. The male coupler portion of  claim 7  wherein the at least one pin further comprises at least two pins, and at least one of the at least two plunger pins moves from the retracted to the locked position by moving from a position closer to the centerline of the coupler portion to a position farther away from the centerline of the coupler. 
     
     
       10. The male coupler portion of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a third hook-engaging mount defined by a third member that is fixedly secured to extends between said third vertical rib and a fourth vertical rib, said third hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a third associated female coupler portion that is different from the first and second associated female coupler portions having at least a shorter distance between hooks; 
 a third rib locking location comprising a third locking channel defined between said third and fourth vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said third hook-engaging mount; and wherein the at least one plunger pin locks the associated female coupler portion rib ear in one of the first, second and third rib locking locations in the locked position and releases the associated female coupler portion rib ear in the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       11. The male coupler portion of  claim 10  wherein the at least one plunger pin further comprises at least two plunger pins which lock the associated female coupler portion rib ear in the one of the first, second and third rib locking locations in the locked configuration and releases the associated female coupler portion rib ear in the retracted position. 
     
     
       12. The male coupler portion of  claim 11  wherein the at least one plunger pin further comprises three plunger pins which separately cooperate with the first, second and third rib locking locations, respectively in the locked configuration, and move out of the first second and third rib locking locations in the retracted configuration. 
     
     
       13. The male coupler portion of  claim 6  wherein the first and second arm connection locations are located between the first and second vertical ribs. 
     
     
       14. A male coupler portion adapted to mate with at least two different associated female coupler portions having different hook spacing distances, said male coupler portion comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 (i) first and second arm locations adapted for connection to associated first and second arms, respectively; 
 (ii) at least one tilt member location adapted for connection to an associated tilt member; 
 (iii) first and second coupler halves each comprising:
 a first hook-engaging mount defined by a first member that is fixedly secured to and extends between first and second vertical ribs, said first hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a first associated female coupler portion; 
 a first rib locking location comprising a first locking channel defined between said first and second vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said first hook-engaging mount; 
 a second hook-engaging mount defined by a second member that is fixedly secured to extends between said second vertical rib and a third vertical rib, said second hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a second associated female coupler portion that is different from the first type of associated female coupler portion, by having at least a shorter distance between hooks; 
 a second rib locking location comprising a second locking channel defined between said second and third vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said second hook-engaging mount; and, 
 at least two plunger pins slidably connected to the frame and movable between a locked position and a retracted position, said plunger pins, when locked, adapted to engage and retain an associated female coupler portion rib ear located in at least one of said first, and second rib locking channels, respectively, 
 wherein a first one of the plunger pins moves from the retracted position external relative to the centerline of the coupler past the third rib to the locked position by moving from further away from a centerline of the coupler portion to closer to the centerline of the coupler portion than when in the retracted position, and 
 a second one of the plunger pins moves from closer to the centerline to further away from the centerline when moving from the retracted to the locked position. 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The male coupler portion of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a third hook-engaging mount defined by a third member that is fixedly secured to extends between said third vertical rib and a fourth vertical rib, said third hook-engaging mount adapted to be received into a hook of a female rib of a third associated female coupler portion that is different from the first and second types of associated female coupler portions by having a shorter distance between hooks than the first and second associated female coupler portions; 
 a third rib locking location comprising a third locking channel defined between said third and fourth vertical ribs so as to be vertically aligned with said third hook-engaging mount; and 
 wherein the at least two plunger pins lock the associated female coupler portion rib ear in one of the first, second and third rib locking locations when in the locked position and release the associated female coupler rib ear when in the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       16. The male coupler portion of  claim 14  wherein the at least one plunger pin further comprises three plunger pins which cooperate with the first, second and third rib locking locations, respectively in the locked configuration. 
     
     
       17. The male coupler portion of  claim 14  wherein the first and second arm locations are located between the first and second vertical ribs.